What were you grateful for this week?All the friends I’ve met here, I am astounded at how incredibly kind and hilarious and genuine my friends are. 

What was the most challenging part of this week?Realizing I only have one month left!

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.Came back from Florence early so I could see my [my host family’s daughter’s] ballet performance!

Tell us about your week! My week can be described through this quote, “I feel like I’m constantly worrying about the next part of my life without realizing that I’m right in the middle of what I used to look forward to.” My life exactly as it is right now is everything I could have ever wanted for myself. I’ve been living in Rome for two months and my Italian is coming along pretty well. I am missing my boyfriend at home a lot, but that just means I have something really good to look forward to. I am completely content with my life and I know that I always will be. Living in the moment is the most important thing to do to be happy. Take the moments to breathe in where you are. If that’s at a train station, look around at the people waiting for your same train, you’re in the same place. Look at their faces and see what they’re going through, you’ve been through or will go through the same thing. 

The most beautiful thing about life that I could imagine is that we are all uniquely human and we all have approximately the same amount of time on this crazy planet. Seeing what other people have done with their lives reminds me that absolutely nothing is impossible. With enough determination, effort, and courage, you can do absolutely anything. As Walt Disney said “all our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”